Countries are now generating a wealth population data, but these data have yet to be fully utilized in the formulation of population policies and programmes at sub-national levels, something that was envisaged during the 1994 ICPD. The main obstacle to achieving this goal has been the lack of robust data at sub-national levels and inadequate capacity to conduct small area estimations and modelling using population data. These issues have limited efforts to fully integrate population issues in development planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This session will provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices, where countries can learn from those who have been able to produce and effectively utilize sub-national data.
As religion is an essential part of the sociocultural fabric of many communities, religious leaders use their social capital in support of family planning and healthy youth sexuality. In this session, religious leaders from different faiths, ages and genders in Kenya will share how they help shape norms on family planning and young people’s reproductive health in their communities. The religious leaders will showcase lessons learned on promoting healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies through spaces and mediums of their respective faiths at the local level in Kenya. The session is convened by National Independent Churches of Africa, West Pokot Gospel Music Artists and Muslim Intervention for Health Education, and moderated by Faith to Action Network.
Heroines of Health
With introduction by Desta Lakew, Chair, Women in Global Health Africa
Today women make up 75% of the global healthcare workforce, yet too often their work is unrecognized. These are three of many untold stories that may hold the key to unlocking better health for more people around the world. Mercy, Dr. Sharmila and Mrs. Rohani come from different backgrounds. They speak different languages. Yet they share a common journey, overcoming steep challenges and expectations to bring better health to their communities.
Documentary/US/English/29 minutes/2017
Director: Lisa Russell
Producer: GE Healthcare
Kyenvu
Winner of the Best Short Award at the Pan African Film Festival 2018, Kyenvu tells the story of an unexpected love affair that is formed at a taxi stop in Uganda and is forever changed by a wardrobe choice.
Drama/Uganda/English/20 minutes/2018
Director: Kemiyendo Coutinho
Producer: Kemiyendo Coutinho
The Camel’s Back
A young girl suffering from past trauma believes that she has one day left to live. She sets out on a journey to find her one paradise before it happens. This film was winner of the ‘Short Films’ and ‘East African Fiction’ categories at the Mashariki Africa Film Festival in 2017.
Drama/Kenya/English/22 minutes/2017
Director: Ari Michelle Mboya
Producer: Wangechi Ngugi
The screenings will be followed by a Q & A session with the directors.
In fragile settings, where existing infrastructures are strained and there is a breakdown of social support, access to SRHR and mental health often is deprioritized. This session will take an interactive approach to equip participants with the tools and frameworks to improve access to SRHR and mental health care in such environments, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Participants will learn from select case studies drawn from these areas, followed by a collaborative exercise to develop concrete action plans, recommendations and strategies to address the greatest challenges in their own communities. Organizers will compile the results of the session into a practical handbook of winning strategies for implementation and advocacy for mental health and SRHR in fragile settings.This event will be convened by Postpartum Support Network Africa, Ghent University, Medicins Sans Frontieres Belgium and the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights, Philippines.
Without dependable population data, whole communities of people remain invisible and their needs and rights ignored. In order to leave no one behind, high-quality disaggregated data are required at national and local levels. Meeting the growing data needs of decentralized governance is critical. Population trends will shape national development and investments effectively only when population and household data are widely accessible and utilized as a public good, while safeguarding the rights of respondents to privacy. This session focuses on making data a public good in order to guarantee zero invisibility and to leave no one behind.
This lightning session will raise issues that we do not talk about enough but that are crucial to achieve the ICPD agenda. Including toxic masculinity, access to safe abortion care and putting an end to gender-based violence. At the same time in the Pamoja Zone, join a workshop to learn about Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing (11:30) in the Community Corner. In the Karibu Lounge, interact with inspiring people and discover the power of stories during our Human Library (12:00). In the Computer Station, take part in a WikiGap Edit-a-thon to build and share the knowledge of the ICPD community with the rest of the world on Wikipedia (12:30).
